87. Faith. 6

“Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not.” (Jeremiah 5:21)

We tend to ‘look and label’ the world around us. An artist notices and brings to our attention the detail and subtleties most us have simply overlooked.

The story of Douglas and the cricket has the same thrust in respect to that which is audible.

But just as our human eyes and ears are the instruments we use to see and hear, so there are spiritual eyes and ears that bring understanding about God. One can say then, that these “eyes and ears” are figurative, and speak about the ability of man to comprehend the glories of God. The Psalmist cried out, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

In other words, the spiritual ability to see and hear is a Gift from God that we should crave. It is the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the “Rewarder of those whodiligently seek God”. (Hebrews 11:6)

Have you ever used these eyes and ears to stoop down and listen to a daffodil’s trumpet. “Observe my beauty and majesty, the workmanship of my Creator. Isn’t He wonderful?”

I remember the times we used to sing Clara Scott’s lovely hymn (composed in 1895),

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me. . . . .

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear. . . .

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my heart; illumine me, Spirit divine!

“So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the [spoken] word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

Our next task is to investigate the many ways in which it is possible to “hear the word of God”. Those who at first were despairing of obtaining a “prophetic voice” will then begin to see that they have probably been “hearing” God speak in many ways for quite a time !!

About Arthur Eedle

Arthur was born in 1931, and became a Christian in 1948. At London University he gained a 2nd honours degree in Physics. He went on to get a Teaching Diploma, and throughout his career life taught physics in England, Kenya, and Hong Kong. Coupled with his love of science, he was a keen student of Greek and Hebrew, and gave many lectures on Biblical subjects. Read more